ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken a significant step to ensure transparency and integrity in the handling of large-scale development projects. He has mandated that any project exceeding Rs 2 billion undergo independent third-party validation. This move aims to enhance transparency and address potential issues in the procurement process.
The directive was given during a review meeting on the electronic procurement system and the e-Pak acquisition and disposal system (e-PADS) at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the need for an impartial mechanism to handle grievances and concerns related to procurement, ensuring that it remains separate from the procuring agencies.
In addition to this, he called on relevant authorities to review and potentially amend existing rules and regulations to further strengthen transparency and accountability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also expressed frustration over the delays in rolling out the e-procurement system, which has been funded by the World Bank since 2017. He has now set a deadline for the project’s completion within the next month. The e-procurement system, which has a total budget of $45 million, is already in use across 37 ministries and more than 300 federal procuring agencies.
